The Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling and Economic Crimes said on Friday that Mai and Khanh have been detained for questioning regarding their involvement in a smuggling case linked to MK Skincare Company.
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Phan Thi Mai and her husband, Hoang Kim Khanh, owners of the Mailisa Beauty Clinic chain. Photo from the police |
According to police, from 2020 to 2024, Mai and Khanh imported low-cost cosmetics from Guangzhou, China, for sale in Mailisa’s clinics. These products were found to be substandard and lacked a Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) from China.
Mai collaborated with Chinese accomplices to forge contracts and change the origin of the cosmetics, from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, enabling them to secure a CFS from Hong Kong. This fraudulent rebranding allowed the products to be marketed as high-end, attracting local consumers and sold at inflated prices.
Authorities estimate that the illegal profits from this operation amounted to trillions of dong (VND1 trillion = US$38 million), with three of their 100 key products accounting for a significant portion of these earnings.
Mai, 50, originally from the central province of Ha Tinh, started her career in a small hairdressing and makeup shop in HCMC before founding the Mailisa brand. Together with her 10-year-younger husband Khanh, they grew Mailisa into a nationwide beauty clinic chain.
In addition to their business success, the couple attracted public attention for their multimillion-dollar supercar fleet and philanthropic efforts, which included donating money and gifts to the poor and assisting communities affected by flooding.
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Police raid one of Mailisa branches. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Du |
In March, at an event organized by Mailisa in Da Nang City, the couple’s vehicle convoy ran a red light and was fined by the traffic police. Mai publicly accepted responsibility.
Mailisa has previously faced repeated complaints about exaggerated advertising, using customer images without permission and selling products that did not match their claimed functions.
It was once been ordered by market authorities to correct violations related to labeling and product disclosure.
One of its branches was fined for making misleading advertisements of cosmetic products by portraying them as medicines.
Mai has consistently said her business operates transparently and pays VND10–20 billion in taxes each month, and that all its products are licensed by the Ministry of Health, officially imported and do not have prohibited ingredients.
On Nov. 13, police raided several Mailisa branches in HCMC and Hanoi.
